FEATURE

Pharmacy Residency Receives Initial Accreditation

Pharmacy Residency Staff and Residents Front: Monica Fitzgerald, Kathy Kopcza, Slava Pikulin, Tricia Barrett, Erin Taylor Back: Jerry Korona, Mark Heelon, Aaron Michelucci, Seth Housman, Adam Pesaturo, Gary Kerr

Baystate Medical Center’s 1-year pharmacy residency program for graduates with a doctorate in pharmacy was granted a 3-year accreditation by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) at its March 2009 meeting. ASHP, with 35,000 members, is the only national organization of hospital and health system pharmacists. .Accreditation indicates compliance with established standards of practice, including the requirements needed to provide a state-of-the-art practice environment.

The pharmacy residency participates in ASHP's "match" program that places applicants into pharmacy residency training positions—both PG1 and PG2—in the U.S. According to Aaron Michelucci, PharmD, Program Director, one of the major benefits of accreditation is the increased national recognition that makes it easier to recruit top-notch candidates from around the country. This year, both residents are from out of the area, whereas 3 of the 4 residents from the previous two classes were from Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The pharmacy residency is designed to produce well-rounded pharmacists who are prepared for advanced careers in a variety of practice environments, or for a post-graduate 2 year in a specialty such as critical care, infectious disease or medicine safety.

Graduates from Baystate’s pharmacy residency have taken a variety of positions, such as second year post-graduate residency training, school of pharmacy faculty positions, and one who was hired by Baystate as a clinical pharmacist.

The pharmacy residency currently accepts 2 residents per year, but is planning to add a third resident In July 2010. Dr. Michelucci projects that a PG2 program may eventually be added.

The first 2 pharmacy residents graduated in 2008. The residency's third class started in July.